Museumofworldmusic.com

Peru / Bolivia (South America)

Instruments

Name: Tarka

Type: Flute > Aerophone.

Region: Peru, Bolivia > South America.

Source: Multple sources, local - my smallest tarka shown in the photograph was acquired @ Vancouver Folk Festival; and my best quality tarka was given to me as a gift via a friend of mine who is the largest tarka shown in the photo.

Description: The tarka a duct-flute hand carved in a square or rectangular-shaped profile the tarka found in the Andean mountains of Peru and Bolivia and the tarka is played amongst the Inca and Aymara peoples. Traditionally the tarka is accompanied by other tarkas and the bombo. Today the tarka is found in professional Andean ensembles and festival performances.

Anatomy of the Tarka: The tarka has 6 finger-holes the labium just underneath the mouth piece. The tarka's are usually hand carved, sometimes, painted, carved in three dimensional shapes often square or rectangular.